Geosciences
New technology at SEG meeting
The annual Society of Exploration Geophys-icists (SEG) convention, held in San Antonio, Texas, presented a large showing of new technology. The following is a sampling:
Wearable computer
The hands-free computer can run all versions of Windows, Linux, SCO Unix, and industry standard PC-compatible software. The wearable system developers claim to provide savings in maintenance, repair, diagnosis, inspection, inventory control, and data collection. There are many potential uses for offshore production facilities.
EXPLORATION: Brazil 3D
CGG won a 2,700 sq km high resolution seismic survey contract from Petrobras. The 3D survey will be shot in the Campos Basin over existing fields as a baseline survey for future 4D programs. All Petrobras' fields in the Campos Basin will be covered in the survey. The area is complex and highly obstructed with at least 30 fixed platforms. The survey will be gathered by theCGG Harmattan. Processing will start onboard the vessel and final migration will be completed by CGG's reservoir processing group in Paris, France.
Venezuela survey
Suelopetrol C.A., China Offshore Oil Geophysical Corp., DWS, and Cobra Energy were awarded an 8,600 km 2D survey contract by PDVSA. The competitive bid includes 9,400 km of gravity, magnetics, and bathymetry surveying plus all data processing. The deepwater survey will be shot in 3,000 meters water depth by theBin Hai 512. The survey is underway and will be completed by yearend.
Gulf of Mexico survey
WesternGeco'sWestern Pride, began its first Q-Marine survey in the Gulf of Mexico. The multiclient survey will cover the Hoover, Diana South, Rockefeller, Madison, and Marshall fields. The vessel will pull eight streamers, each 8,000 meters in length.
Northwest Atlantic
TGS-Nopec announced the completion of a 4,000-km 2D seismic survey in West Greenland/ Canadian waters. Acquisition began in July and field operations were completed early in October. The survey ties existing wells off Canada into an unexplored, highly prospective province, recently discovered during an earlier seismic program in these waters. TheM/V Zephyr-1 acquired the survey and TGS-NOPEC's computing center in Bedford, UK processed the data.
Spain survey
TGS-Nopec announced a 4,100-km 2D seismic survey and a 38,000-km aeromagnetic program in the Cantabrian Sea offshore Spain. Both surveys began in September and will finish by November. The Cantabrian Sea survey is the first in a series of programs the company will conduct offshore Spain. The data will be acquired by theM/V NanHai 502 towing a 6,000 m streamer. Final data will be available to oil companies during the 1Q 2002, following processing in the company's Bedford, UK processing center. Aeromagnetic data will be acquired and processed by the company's potential field group based in Norway. Final magnetic data will be available in December.
Author's Note on SEG: My sympathies to all in the geoscience community who lost family and friends in the recent terrorist attacks, and my thanks to the SEG organizing committee, which assured the safety of delegates during the continuation of the SEG meeting. Also, special thanks goes to those companies using their presentation equipment to keep delegates informed of outside events and those companies who arranged ground transportation for stranded air travelers.